Notre Dame assistant criticizes Niumatalolo

November 12, 2009|By Sports Digest

Notre Dame associate head coach Corwin Brown has criticized Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo for his comments after the Midshipmen upset the Irish on Saturday and for what he termed a "malicious" cut block by a Navy receiver. Brown said it was improper for Niumatalolo to say after the game that Navy knew Notre Dame would use the same defensive scheme as the season before. He said classy coaches don't make such comments. He also said Navy lacks imagination in its blocking, saying its players use illegal cut blocks. He pointed to a play last season on which linebacker Brian Smith was injured and a personal foul call against Navy receiver Nick Henderson for a hit on cornerback Robert Blanton. Brown said he called Niumatalolo to tell him.